There has been consistent and constructive criticism of the decision by the International Cricket Council(ICC) and its wealthiest boards, to reduce the number of teams playing in the 2019 World Cup but it has found support from Sunil Gavaskar. 

The 10-team marquee event next year means many of the emerging nations have missed out from the tournament that has often been the vital cog in these nation's progress wheel, in both cricketing and financial way. 

Competitiveness sells above anything in a marquee cricket tournament, like IPL this year exemplified, but Gavaskar isn't convinced about the quality. Writing in his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar wrote, "Meanwhile Scotland's surprise win over England has again raised the cry about the number of teams for next year's World Cup, These people have forgotten that there was a tournament among Associate members and the two of the bottom-ranked Test playing countries to qualify for next year's World Cup. Afghanistan and West Indies qualified by getting to the finals"

"The point here is simple that if Ireland and Scotland, from where most of the noise comes about the number of teams for next year's World Cup, were not good enough to qualify in an associate members event then how can they even think in terms of playing with the big boys in the World Cup? It's like subcontinent teams asking to be included in the football World Cup"

"Get real guys, one win does not make you good enough to play in the cricket World Cup. If these teams are included then like we have seen in previous editions the quality of the game comes down and dilutes an event as big as the World Cup."